Lords to examine 'increasing lack of support' for vulnerable children

The inquiry is being launched amid concerns that challenges facing vulnerable children are not being picked up by support services.

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Lords are concerned this trend is being exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Domestic abuse, mental health problems, poor housing and substance misuse are among the areas of support being covered in the inquiry, which is being launched by the House of Lords Public Services Committee.

“The number of vulnerable children invisible to public services has seen a significant and worrying increase since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said committee chair Baroness Armstrong.

The inquiry will look at a wide range of support across councils, schools, police and health services.

Support for pregnant mothers, early years and help for school leavers are also among areas under scrutiny.

Questions it will also include whether vulnerable children and their families receive enough support from early intervention and preventative services.

Another issue to be looked at is how government can better link up services to support vulnerable children.

The sharing of data among support services and regional disparities in children’s life chances is also being scrutinised.

The committee has launched a call for evidence ahead of the inquiry and is particularly interested to hear from frontline professionals supporting children. 

Baroness Armstrong added: “Our new inquiry will consider public services in the broadest sense: it will look at all those services that give vital support to vulnerable children. We’ll be exploring community-level initiatives and the role of the private, voluntary and charitable sectors in the delivery of services to children and families.

“We’re really keen to hear from anyone who works with vulnerable children and to amplify the voices of vulnerable children themselves.”

The inquiry follows the committee’s report A critical juncture for public services: lessons from Covid-19, published in November last year.

This found that only one in ten vulnerable children attended school during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

It also found that vulnerable children face more risk of abuse and dropping further behind amid school closures. A lack of visits by social workers during the pandemic was also flagged up by the report.